The McCourt School of Public Policy and School of Foreign Service (SFS) hosted a debate on ongoing foreign policy challenges to the United States. in relation to the upcoming 2024 presidential election Sept. 26.
Anthony Arend, chair of the department of government, moderated the debate between Morgan Ortagus, former U.S. Department of State spokesperson in the Trump administration, and Marie Harf, former senior advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry. The discussion focused on pressing foreign policy concerns, including Russia’s war on Ukraine and U.S. policy in the Middle East. Ortagus and Harf also examined how voters should evaluate the foreign policy stances of the two presidential campaigns: Vice President Harris’ and former President Trump’s.
Regarding the upcoming election, Ortagus emphasized that the most critical foreign policy issue at stake is the approach to managing the rising influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
“I would say the most important thing that a second term can do, quite frankly, is to focus on the threat and the aggressiveness from the Chinese Communist Party,” Ortagus said. “Nothing is more important than deterring Xi Jinping’s aggressive military tactics.”
Harf said it is critical for the United States to think beyond security concerns and instead refocus on protecting international law, which she argued could strengthen America’s soft power.
“I think not just using international relationships on something like security when it comes to Ukraine, but rebuilding things like our work in the climate space,” Harf said. “These are things that don’t get headlines all the time, but they really matter when it comes to American soft power around the world and it matters that countries are afraid of us.”
Harf said that President Joe Biden, Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken prioritized diplomatic relations, which helped to create a coalition that effectively aided Ukraine in its battle against Russia since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“When President Biden, Kamala Harris and Tony Blinken went around the world and got not just countries in Eastern Europe who were scared about Russian aggression, not just European countries that were part of NATO, but countries in the Asia-Pacific, countries in South America to stand with us as we created a coalition that has helped Ukraine in its fight against Russia — defending democratic values and preserving the political order today,” Harf said
Ortagus added that Putin did not initiate a war during the Trump administration, in contrast to the Bush, Obama and Biden presidencies. She cited the Russo-Georgian War — when Russia invaded Georgia — in 2008 during the Bush era, Putin’s invasion of Crimea in 2014 during the Obama administration and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 under the Biden administration.
“Why didn’t he invade on our watch? Why did he wait for the Democrats or an office?” Ortagus said. “He invaded under Bush, he invaded under Obama’s second term and then he invaded to give a fight and why didn’t he invade under Trump?”
Harf said the Biden administration has also continued to stand up for U.S. democracy worldwide, especially through restricting Iranian nuclear power and sustaining partnerships in Asia.
“They’ve re-engaged in diplomacy to try and prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, they’ve reinvigorated many of our relationships in Asia. They have expanded bilateral, strategic deals around the world,” Harf said.
Although the Biden administration announced progress in March 2024 in reinstating the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, which aims to restrict Iranian nuclear development, Iran has since been reluctant to consider discussing negotiations.
Ortagus further stated the Biden administration, though successful in forming some coalitions, failed in its removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. She argued the administration refused to follow proper procedures that could have prevented U.S. and allied losses.
“President Biden was so insistent that he was getting out of Afghanistan without the conditions-based approach that we actually negotiated. In our deal you cannot withdraw the troops without meeting certain conditions,” Ortagus said. “We saw Americans die, we saw Americans get left behind, we saw allies left behind.”
Harf said that the United States’ strength as a global superpower comes from its democratic values over physical force.
“It’s America being a leader in the world not because of the strength of our military, although that matters, but because of the strength of our values and because we are partners with countries — we don’t try and beat them all into submission,” Harf said.
Ortagus said Georgetown students should vote in this year’s election, particularly given the high stakes in foreign policy decisions.
“I would encourage you to vote, even if you don’t vote for two-party candidates, two main parties, or you vote for someone else, or you go down to vote for Senate, House; it’s important to vote,” Ortagus said.
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